Russia releases Gagarin's secret last words

Apr 10, 2011 by Dmitry Zaks

First cosmonaut in history Yuri Gagarin, pictured saluting the crowd upon his arrival in London, in July 1961 during an official visit to the UK. One of the last things Yuri Gagarin did before making his pioneering voyage into space 50 years ago was make sure he had enough sausage to last him on the trip back home to Moscow, archives have revealed.

One of the last things Yuri Gagarin did before making his pioneering voyage into space 50 years ago was make sure he had enough sausage to last him on the trip back home to Moscow.

This tidbit was among more than 700 pages of once-secret material linked to the life and times of the world's first spaceman that were released by Russia ahead of the April 12 anniversary.

The historic space shot turned Gagarin into an instant celebrity whose boyish charms became a powerful propaganda weapon for the Soviet Union as it scrambled to win its ideological battle against the United States during the Cold War.

His boy-next-door grin and outsized helmet became a staple of Soviet stamps while his heroism turned into a subject of elementary school literature that became comparable to the teachings of Lenin.

Russian authorities -- with their own space programme in trouble -- have grabbed on to that glory by making the Gagarin celebrations into a national event stretching from the halls of the Kremlin to the International Space Station.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is planning a visit to the mission control centre outside Moscow while his mentor and predecessor Vladimir Putin will hold his own meeting with Russian and Ukrainian cosmonauts in Ukraine.

But making the biggest news among Russians this weekend were files revealing the conversation Gagarin had while strapped into his capsule with chief rocket designer Sergei Korolyov -- a man who became a legend in his own right.

Gagarin is best remembered by a generation of Russian for pronouncing "Poyekhali!" as his Vostok spacecraft lifted off the ground.

The phrase can be translated as either "Let's Go!" or "We're Off!" and is now a regular part of the Russian lexicon.

But the Russian Internet was abuzz with what Gagarin said moments before his famous catchphrase.

One of Korolyov's biggest worries appeared to be that the would-be hero had enough to eat once he touched down on Earth.

"There in the flap you have dinner, supper and breakfast," the father of the Soviet rocket programme told Gagarin by radio as the clock ticked down.

"Got it," Gagarin replied in comments originally posted on the lifenews.ru website.

"You've got sausage, candy and jam to go with the tea," Korolyov went on. "Sixty-three pieces -- you'll get fat! When you get back today, eat everything right away."

Gagarin joked back: "The main thing is that there is sausage -- to go with the moonshine."

Korolyov appeared to take the joke in stride.

"Damn. This thing is recording everything, the bastard," the scientist said in reference to the relay recorders.

The website also published a photograph of the original faded sheet on which the conversation is transcribed.

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"Russian authorities -- with their own space programme in trouble --....."

Yeah as if the American space program is doing just great. After all, this year is the last for the shuttle with no new vehicle in sight. Thank god for the Russians, the ESA, and private space corporations.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I suspect the reason the U.S. has no replacement for the space shuttle is because secretly they do. Recent sightings of triangular shaped Unidentified aerial phenomenon are on the rise, very similar to the increase in the sightings of the F114 Stealth Fighter years ago. The new craft is probably designated TR3B-Astra or similar. Pictures follow: http://www.google...;bih=603

As you can see, they really are not trying to hide this as a secret anymore. It's just that this new spacecraft is so advanced it is going to take a long time for the world population so not be afraid when they see one of these craft floating overhead.

We on Homeplanet were alarmed in the 1960's as it looked like Earthlings were truly on a track to conquer space and could be a long-term threat to the Galactic Empire. Now we just laugh!

When a civilization expends greater efforts looking back at past achievements rather than creating new ones, it is toast. You fools are even scrapping the closest thing you have to a real spaceship, and it may be decades before anyone bothers to venture beyond orbit. If we invaded your puny little planet, we couldn't have done much more damage than you are doing yourselves!

tkitki --What Russian bias? It's not science news, but what bias. Shows his gregarious humanity and some details of the last minutes.

"... celebrity whose boyish charms became a powerful propaganda weapon for the Soviet Union... "I guess you believe Russian statements are 'propaganda' while ours are truths?

"Russian authorities -- with their own space programme in trouble -- have grabbed on to that glory by making the Gagarin celebrations into a national event " In trouble?? just what state is our own program in? You seem to tolerate pejorative, demeaning remarks here .. i don't.

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